Apple Vale Alpacas

Ambrosias 'haircut' wins her a 'place'.

noreply@blogger.com (Apple Vale Alpacas) — Sun, 03 Jun 2012 13:57:00 +0000

After discovering a flat tyre on the trailer at 9 o'clock the night before, we trooped off to the Royal Bath & West Show on thursday with Bramley entered in the Intermediate Female Brown class, and Ambrosia for company, sporting her newly shorn style - recent visitors to this blog will recall that I had taken off a little too much of her top-knot, leaving a slightly severe look. Now if I had a pound for every visitor that came up to our pen and said to Ambrosia, "aah, why are you looking so miserable?" I'd have rather a lot of pounds - well alright, since you asked, about twenty.

Bramley fidgeted a lot in the ring, but didn't disgrace herself and improved on her fourth-place at the Devon County Show, gaining a third, which confirmed our decision to arrange an exciting liasion in a few weeks time with a male of the species.We also have a quality mating arranged for Ambrosia, and so are hoping we'll be demonstrating some great characteristics for 2013 cria from dams born here, in addition to what this summers births bring, having laid good genetic foundations in place.

The alpaca show had been invited by the main show organisers to parade daily around the countryside arena as a demonstration of British alpacas - many of the top rosette winners were gathered, and as a demonstration of a shorn alpaca, Ambrosia was invited to join the group, and so of course we jumped at the chance!

Right, having caught up with The Voice, and glad to see that Lianne won, we're off to See Elton John at Taunton Cricket Ground tonight.

Four shorn for sure

noreply@blogger.com (Apple Vale Alpacas) — Sun, 27 May 2012 22:11:00 +0000

With the heatwave looming on wednesday, and three pregnant females due from the end of June onwards, I put my newly-learnt skills into practice this week, and sheared four of the herd.

Due to the heat at the time of shearing, and their 'expectant' state, we had to be swift, and couldn't spend an excessive time trying to reach perfection, and so, harking back to the seventies, the feather-cut has made an unexpected return to fashion! (of course I'm not old enough to remember it, my Grandparents told me about it! ;-) Not only that, but we now have a bearded lady - sorry Minnie, but it was boiling hot when we sheared her, and she needed to be released - there wasn't even time to ask where she was going for her holidays this year...

Autumn Gold

We did the shearing in two seperate sessions, mild-mannered ones first on wednesday, though Autumn Gold squealed throughout, followed a couple of days later by Minnie & Ambrosia.

Ambrosia - where did I leave my top knot?

Bramley and Camelot have to wait until after the Royal Bath & West Show on thursday for their visit to the salon. Meanwhile, the water trough and tray have at last been called into service, to provide the cooling dip that alpacas love.

Disregarding the slight lack of finishing touches, it was a great relief to have relieved them of their over-coats in hot weather, and to remove the anxiety of reliance on the weather being kind to the professional shearers and their inevitable tight programmes - and yes, my back did ache straight after, but was soon long forgotten.

Devon County Show

noreply@blogger.com (Apple Vale Alpacas) — Thu, 17 May 2012 21:30:00 +0000

Camelot, Bramley, and three ducks in the evening sun.

We withdrew from the North Somerset Show after Bramley reacted badly to her halter a few days before - this was because she had scabs on her jaw which I hadn't realised were there - I had treated her for mites five weeks earlier with injected treatment and facial scrub and healing cream, but hadn't realised the extent of scabbing beneath her fleece, which I presumed had created tenderness to the halter. So I increased the healing treatment cream, changing to udder salve with daily assessment and application, and lunchtime yesterday gave her a shampoo to reduce the greasey-ness, giving time in the afternoon to dry. Last night I tried the halter, and she happily walked around the garden, before getting a little fractious.

you put your left leg in...

So, with a little trepidation, and a lot of optimism, we set off at 6 this morning for the Devon County Show - she didn''t disappoint, behaved well, and came away with a fourth place rosette, with favourable comments from judge Val Fullerlove, in particular that it was a good group, all with ideal conformation, and good fleeces, and highlighting Bramley's brightness.

As I stood in the line-up, I noticed Mrs. Smallholder being 'whisked off' by Herr Patou, and wondered what was up back in the pens (or was he just seizing a chance to treat her to a hot chocolate and eccles cake?) - but no, apparently Camelot, who had travelled as chaperone for Bramley, was missing her so much he had leapt out of the pen in the marquee - Mark (Herr Patou), had noticed this athletic behaviour, walked up to Camelot (who had frozen on the spot), and with his years of experience arrested Camelot and escorted him back to his pen. As he raced off to inform Mrs. S, he didn't realise that Camelot would make another leap for freedom to be with Bramley during her time in the show ring, but another breeder stepped in to prevent his escape - Bramley, meanwhile, was collecting her fourth place rosette. The weather was drizzly with a cold wind - not as good as forecast, but not as bad as it could have been, so a good day overall.

Dry eggs, bare legs.

noreply@blogger.com (Apple Vale Alpacas) — Sun, 13 May 2012 21:58:00 +0000

Moira, maiden matriarch enjoys the evening sunshine, and while not the most glamorous alpaca, we've all got one, and I'm happy to give her 15 minutes of fame.

Very disappointed not to go to the North Somerset Show, which was for a variety of reasons, but primarily, one of the show team wasn't able to wear a halter due to soreness, so that left one, and the weather forecast and ground conditions were awful, and I was sure my (4x4) car wouldn't have had the weight or power to get the trailer out - but it sounds like those that went found a unifying situation in the conditions, and were full of praise for the organisers and volunteers, for making an event out of dreadful conditions. I used the unexpected opportunity to spend the day in the shed, and made a produce stand for Mrs. Smallholders eggs and veg.

The local bus stops outside while the driver buys eggs and asks passengers if they want any!

Yesterday I helped out with haltering and handling at the dispersal sale of Ashill Alpacas. It was very well set up and their alpacas are well-behaved, so all went smoothly. It was held in their village hall, and the fine weather made the day very pleasant. The selling prices were undoubtedly low, but that nearly always is the case with most commodities, except for the exceptionally good quality 'items' where two or more bidders recognise the quality and go after it - prices will tend to be lower than the open market because of the quantity on offer at one time, the relatively short time that a bidder has to decide on their purchase, and the fact that there is little, or no after-sales service or back-up - it's an understandable means to sell a herd unless you can plan your down-size over a number of years, but then the herd will become 'over-aged' and taken over by other breeding developments.

Great to have some warm sunshine this weekend, enough to bare the legs for the first time this year, while I shifted a ton of manure from 'A' to 'B' - should have put it at 'B' in the first place!

Devon County Show this week, and not sure whether we'll be showing but we'll be there, and looking forward to it, and we are working on the doubtful one.

A bad hair day!

noreply@blogger.com (Apple Vale Alpacas) — Wed, 02 May 2012 21:09:00 +0000

'customers' before and after, relaxing after a short-back-and-sides - the 'salon' has a fake palm tree!

Spent the day at Classical Mile End alpacas today learning to shear. Knees are raw, joints creaking, and despite having had several washes followed by a shower, still smelling of spit!!! ...but feeling very accomplished, having shorn two alpacas, ground some teeth, and removed a fighting tooth. It was a day spent in the company of six other breeders who got on so well, split into two groups of three.

A good classroom introduction with notes, by Chas, followed by one of Rachels legendary lunches, we then had a demonstration, and off we went, with guidance from Chas and his stockman Ondre, taking turns as shearer or 'headman'.

Despite having Superglue on stand-by, no-one made any accidental cuts causing bleeds! I did cut the teeth of one female a bit low, and caused a little bleed of her gum, I must confess - it was a very good day, and new friends made.

North Somerset Show on monday, so trying to finish off halter training Camelot, and to get him and Bramley into some kind of show condition - fortunately that does mean paddock condition - we don't pretend to have the best animals. but they do have good qualities, and we leave it to the judge to see what their best attributes are, and hopefully that will see some recognition.

In three months, he won't know he had a bad haircut!

Grandsire: Apple Vale Dave

noreply@blogger.com (Apple Vale Alpacas) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 22:13:00 +0000

Yes, a bit of two-legged news! Our daughter Kerry (Dam:Mrs. Smallholder, Sire: Apple Vale Dave) gave birth to a lovely daughter, Pixie Indigo Bartlett yesterday afternoon! They are doing well, though not up and running yet!

Meanwhile, I am continuing halter training Camelot, though there isn't long between downpours to get anything useful done, bearing in mind the day job. We did have some good sessions last weekend though. I've introduced a few of them to apple, having run out of carrots, though they do look like chips in the photographs!

I spent a day helping 'build' and prepare the Alpaca 2012 Show, which was an interesting insight to the huge amount of work that goes into such an event, particularly since it is a stand-alone show, not part of an agricultural show.

Storm clouds gather again...

I then attended the first day of the show, which has had many good reports.

Belly brush

noreply@blogger.com (Apple Vale Alpacas) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 10:51:00 +0000

Must see the orthodontist.

Queuing at the gate - "we're going home, we're going home"

A short cut, courtesy of our neighbours.

We have a two foot gap where we roll the fence back, and they squeeze through!

Pelachuta doesn't like the jam, and goes to the back.

Pelachuta and Bramley get straight in the rolling pit

Camelot and Minnie take their turn in the rolling pit.

The hens have to get used to sharing the paddock again.

Lets all squeeze into the corner to graze - Camelots fleece like an explosion in a mattress factory!

Good Friday dawned crisp with a slight frost, and thin ice on the water buckets like the caramalised sugar on a Creme Brulee... but not brown...or hot... anyway, I had decided to bring the herd home from the paddock next-door-but-one, as their grass was well grazed without recovery due to the dry weather, and our grass was well recovered, and we had husbandry tasks to deal with. So the rattle of hurdles being set up excited them and attracted them to the gate, and the sight of feed buckets helped - none of them wandered off through the taped route and I had a job to keep up, so they were home in 5minutes, and with lush grass and old memories to re-discover they ignored their feed buckets.

It's great to have them back, and to be able to watch their behaviour any time of day or night or weather.

Yesterday, I gave them all Lambivac vaccinations, and today we trimmed toe-nails. Camelot launched himself like Zebedee over the hurdles, but caught his belly or groin on landing - ouch.

My camera (Canon Eos 1000D) has been playing up since The Futurity - I get an Err 99 each time it re-sets, and I have to take the battery out and put it back - I've tried suggestions given on the Canon forum to no avail - looks like I'll have to send it for service, but I can't bear to be without it - anyone had similar?

We transferred some potted conifers into the field four years ago as they had out-grown the pots, and Mrs. Smallholder thought we could grow some firewood - fast-forward to a herd of alpacas, and the trees have become alpaca belly-brushes - see the videos: "Apple Vale Bellybrush - reaches the parts a long neck and rolling pit don't reach".

Are those diamonds on the soles of his shoes?

noreply@blogger.com (Apple Vale Alpacas) — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 19:56:00 +0000

As you can see from the display, Joy had put alot of effort into the items, deciding after last years show that other stallholders would be selling similar garments, so she decided on knitted and felted bears, all made from our own alpaca fleece, plus a few other 'non-bears' such as the felted white alpaca in the centre of the display, and the spring garlands - these were mainly a 'front' to draw interest in the spinning and felting residential courses that she is offering - which is just as well, as sales were minimal. Given that we were at the NEC, with additional potential, though 'footfall' was greater than last year, we don't think it reached the potential - I saw hundreds leaving the Education Show, and very few headed to the Futurity - some peered in, but there were no big impact photographs showing what was inside, and so from the outside it appeared like a trade show - which, to a large extent it is - but it's also meant to be showing the best and the future of alpaca breeding, and the products, to the wider audience that we all need. Having said that there has been a lot of follow-up interest in the courses, so, fingers-crossed - and I did get a rosette for my photo' of two alpacas looking in the mirror. As has been stated elswhere the animal showing and judging was excellently run, and also judged as always with her good humour, passion and tolerance by Val Fullerlove.

Those who met us will recall that Joy was suffering a major 'head cold' at the time which greatly curtailed her participation in the socialising - I felt for her at the time - I've been self-employed for 17 years, and only had one day off sick every few years, but since tuesday I've been off for 3 days with fever, head cold and loss of energy - they say you know it's flu' if there was a £20 note on the floor and you wouldn't get out of bed to pick it up - likewise, if you can't get out to feed your 'paca! I rest my case, but I can feel the howls of derision starting; "pah man-flu!" I only felt I was in charge of my own legs yesterday :-)

Our sling might have been useful for this competitor, whose identity I'll protect, but I'm sure he'll see the funny side!

We had to inspect one of our girls' legs closely this week, to check on the improvement after mites last year, particularly around her joints - but, she always kushes, and alpacas are very good at tucking their feet in, and it's very hard even for two to roll her and straighten the leg, and then properly inspect it. So, we devised a partial 'hoist', which would not lift her off the ground, but would prevent her kushing, by keeping her up - with some good canvas, upholstery eyelets and thin rope, we set up the 'trap' - laid on the ground under a bed of straw so she wouldn't be spooked - she was led across it, while one of us raised the sling under her chest, but in the process of drawing it steadily together and maintaining tension (or not) she moved forward, so that it finished up under her abdomen, which was clearly not good, and we had to let her kush, which then became impossible to lift her - it's still a method which we'll try and improve on, but has anyone else come across a similar problem and solution? We obviously wouldn't use it on a pregnant female.

can we come home yet?

In the current rented paddock, the alpacas can reach a bamboo plant which they've shown a fondness for, both for eating, and 'grooming' against - they also like to groom against some small conifers. I wondered if anyone else has noticed particular shrubs that are popular for grooming?

Lots of gnats or midges around this week - where are swifts, swallows, dragonflies and bats when you want them?

I took the opportunity to 'Dubbin' my boots in the sun this afternoon, before wet weather returns...and I also had to clean my 'dinner' shoes from the Futurity last week - nothing scuffed or dulled in the polished leather by spilt wine or salmon you understand, but there was alpaca dung on the soles - I had the honour of being selected as assistant ring handler for The Mighty Patou, but had left my boots in the car, in the Exhibitors car park some distance away, so I wore the dinner shoes. Clearly, my conformation is good, I've got good handle, not much crimp in my hair, but the lustre on my shoes was bright, and so I think I didn't detract from the magnificent animals I was entrusted with - however, unknowingly, I departed the hall with some 'gifts' on the sole of my shoes - the fashion show and dinner had a fragrance to match the occasion - but did anyone notice? you can take a farmer out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the farmer!

Cuckoo-ca-choo

noreply@blogger.com (Apple Vale Alpacas) — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 22:26:00 +0000

How exciting! the show season kicks off tomorrow, with the British Alpaca Futurity AND Channel 4 are running the Honda adverts again with the alpaca breeder tonight- coincidence, or good planning by Chas?

Joy has a stand (Appleknit) in the Fibre Village, and she has been working tirelessly, preparing the fantastic knitted and felted teddys, plus accompanying decorations, packaging etc. At least we don't have to prepare trailers, alpacas and so on - there'll be many breeders primping 'pacas (paddock conditon of course) tinkering with trailers, fettling fleece, untangling halters and leads...

I've had an idea to help the water shortage: hopefully visitors from the north will be bringing a bottle of water to pass on to visitors from the south-east to help with the water shortage, and this could be repeated at football matches between northern clubs and the London clubs - perhaps I should keep quiet about this until I've patented it...

Moira gave me a little worry earlier this week, when she didn't have her Camelibra in the morning, or her Fibregest in the afternoon and was sitting too much - I then spotted a very soft 'motion', and as I was leaving, she was squatting so I rushed back and saw another soft one - we did a check for poisonous plants, as there is a small glade of woodland, and did a faecal test to check parasite levels - none found - a lot of research later and I concluded it was probably due to lush grass, as she has been in the new neighbouring paddock - . The following morning she was eating again, and stools fine.
This morning we found several small Cuckoopint plants shooting out, so whipped them out - they are poisonous.

Good luck at the Futurity whoever is going, and do say hello, if you are there.

Re-united.

noreply@blogger.com (Apple Vale Alpacas) — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 21:27:00 +0000

new pastures

Today, we got the herd into new grazing in the paddock, next-door-but-one, which sounds straight-forward, but a complicated manoeuvre all the same. Last weekend, I'd erected a fence there with our sons and one of their partners, who were glad to earn some man-points while they were home.

A misty start - Moira calls a meeting of the re-united herd - Minnie keeps them waiting

Firstly, we took the trailer and went and collected the four who have been staying in an orchard up in the village. We re-united them with Camelot and his two weaning partners back here, and after a little while to settle down and renew old acquaintences we gave them all their injected Vitamin ADE update. Camelot bothered Minnie for a suckle, but she was having none of it, and delivered some rear kicks.

Tasting session

Then we let them out while we humped hurdles and set them up with tapes, at strategic points on the route to the new paddock.

Our neighbours had allowed us to put Camelot and his two companions on their unused paddock over the last two weekends, and we managed to get them through a two-feet gap at the end of the fence line, with the persuasion of a feed bucket and the sight of fresh grass, so today we used this route to transfer all seven next-door-but one, which saved us taking them through two awkward gateways and along the edge of two large fields, with high risk of them 'wandering off'.

Moira is wearing some of the brushwood from the glade

After a bit of jostling and indecision, Camelot led the way followed by the two who were familiar with this, then Bramley couldn't resist the temptation and went through and they all trotted out of the gate, and followed the tape and hurdle guide into the new paddock. Ambrosia, Pelachuta and Minnie weren't so convinced, and took a lot more bucket-shaking and encouragement, then Minnie went for a wander around our neighbours paddock wondering how to get to join the others, but eventually she cottoned-on, and Joy had managed to stop the others from coming back, while allowing Minnie through the gate to join them - phew, no mishaps, and all safely in, time for a cuppa! then to set them up with water.

Mother and son re-united

We hope to keep them there, while our paddocks recover, and we'll be doing some faecal testing before the return.

Bramley looks wistfully back at home pasture

New fibre colours released!

noreply@blogger.com (Apple Vale Alpacas) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 21:51:00 +0000

In my last post, I mentioned that I'd met a man with a thermal imaging camera, who was assessing some high-sustainability houses next to the paddock which four of the herd are currently grazing. Well, I suggested it would be interesting to look at the alpacas, and here are some of the results:

Given that an alpacas normal internal body temperature is 37-39deg Centigrade, the figures aren't so surprising - the air temperature was probably around 8deg., and the sun was just about to set.

As the temperatures plummeted this week, we were a little concerned about Moira, our ten-year-old maiden - she has a very short fleece, but very fine - she was shorn last summer but not the year before. We had thought about a coat, but realistically, we wondered about her accepting it - could you persuade your grandmother to change her ways? So I opened the double doors of the hay shed, put down a straw bed, some tempting buckets of alfalfa, and set up a mirror for encouragement - they all cautiously looked around, went in, and tucked in. At 11 o'clock, I went out with a torch...there they were, all sat on top of the hill - it was around about minus five - and that's where they spent the two coldest nights!

Don't I know you?

In the afternoon, had a handful of carrot chopped into long lengths, which Moira and Autumn Gold happily take from my hand - Camelot however, is 19 days into his weaning, and sniffed at the carrot but wouldn't take it horizontally, so I slowly turned it upright, resembling a teat perhaps, and he quite happily went underneath and took it into his mouth!

Faecal Attraction.

noreply@blogger.com (Apple Vale Alpacas) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:36:00 +0000

Joy is busy creating products for the stand at the Futurity Fibre Arts Village. She has posted pictures on Facebook, of some of the collection of knitted and felted bears that will be 'attending' : go to https://www.facebook.com/pages/APPLE-Alpaca-Craft/136378046416571Facebook 'APPLE Alpaca Craft',


Camelot has been doing a lot of mud rolling...

Meanwhile, Camelot has settled into his weaning at home with Moira, Autumn Gold and us, while the other four are away at 'graze-camp' up in the village - I cycle over there with their feed in the morning after I've fed the other three, and then drive over from the office during the afternoon before dark to check up on them and deliver their hay-bags.

"...19,20... coming ready or not!"

In the picture above, the hen had just jumped off the gate, so is in mid-flight, though it looks like it is hiding under it's wings.
Last week I met a man with a thermal imaging camera which was very interesting, and I hope to have more on that another time.

"Can't stop, the gate to the lawn has been opened, and there's good grass to be had"

"hey, wait for us!"

We do our own regular faecal tests, and for two of them this will be weekly - having brought Autumn Gold back from 'graze-camp' we are watching to see if she's brought any 'passengers' back, and with Camelot being weaned, we are watching his parasite levels as he adjusts to being without his mums resistance. We want to try and avoid anti-biotic resistance, so will only treat if the tests indicate a need - so far, so good - which reminds me, I must read Claire Whiteheads article in this months Alpaca World - there's also a good summary of the TB Bio-security Workshop by Mark Steele - (I didn't notice you making notes Mark, so the 'day job' has clearly had benefits in your powers of observation and recollection!). Incidentally, we are spoilt in having such a good independant magazine in our relatively small industry.

And so to accurate faecal collection - remember the 3 S's: spot, sprint, scoop - spot who is doing it and where, move swiftly keeping an eye on it as there will be other piles near-by, scoop it into your sampling vessel (I use plastic party beakers, and you can write the 'doners' name on it - sample collected, now hand it to your laboratory technician (Mrs. Smallholder in this case).
Trivia: Tonights accompanying music as I write this: Moon Safari, by Air - unexpectedly fantastic.

A thought I had the other day: we credit alpacas with being inquisitive, and rightly so - when you compare what I believe to be the average day on the Altiplano: chill air drifting beneath a blue sky, searching for minimal stalky sustainance in dusty scrub, while the (very) occasional Condor wheels overhead, and Puma lurk behind rocks, with an average day on this cramped island: fox, deer, rabbits, badger, crows, sparrowhawk, buzzard, people, dogs, cats, aircraft, cars - it must be like the difference between living in our countryside compared with a day trip to London.

Cosmic microwave background...

noreply@blogger.com (Apple Vale Alpacas) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:52:00 +0000

No, I didn't understand it either, but I do enjoy 'Stargazing Live', and astronomy, in a simple way. So lacking photo's of clean alpacas, here is a picture of our young Oak tree in the moonlight a few (very early) mornings ago - I only got up to answer a call of nature and got lured outside in dressing gown, with camera and tripod - just an experiment...

Anyway, I'd mentioned a while ago, that our trailer was trapped in the field, waiting for better weather to allow the car in to retrieve it without getting stuck - so saturday morning I noticed that the level of frost looked capable of supporting the car, but I had guitar-based business to deal with, and decided to get up early on sunday to attempt a rescue - 7.00 sunday morning, went out - no frost - the going was 'good-to soft' is the racing term I think, and no good, even for a Subaru 4 x 4, due to the slope of our hill. However, yesterday, dawn broke with a frost, and I went for it - up the neighbours hill which faces south and is in much better condition, over the brow, into ours, down the bottom, hook-up, foot down, up the slope, bit of wheel-spin starting, turn across the slope to slacken the gradient, and... yes! made it. So today, we started Camelot's weaning, by taking his mum, Minnie, over to the rented orchard at the other end of the village to join the others, and brought Autumn Gold back for additional company, along with Moira who was already here. Autumn is rather large, and yet they all get the same feed in individual buckets, and she isn't a bully, so at least with our sparse grass, she can't gorge on the lush grass of the orchard. Camelot has also started his halter training.

Last thursday morning during the gales, I had just fed the three remaining here at home, when a gust of wind came roaring acrooss the vale, into the open face of the shelter, and lifted the shelter and corner (tree trunk) post four inches off the ground - just as I pondered whether to grab hold to keep it down (!), the gust passed and it settled down - phew! I quickly tied it to the hay shed for good measure.

Regarding the Futurity, we've made bookings, but we've also made some economies compared with other years - it seems that perhaps the NEC's proximity to the airport, and perhaps the large number of exhibition halls means the hotels can charge a premium, so the whole event can be much more expensive - that's not a complaint, because hopefully, there will be a much greater footfall of the general public, with follow-on benefits to all breeders, but it does mean you have to be careful to weigh-up the benefits against the costs a little more carefully.

I've put our expected birth dates into the calendar along with shows, and Joy has some bookings for felting, and is preparing 'goods' for the Futurity, so there's plenty to look forward to.

Hippy New Year!

noreply@blogger.com (Apple Vale Alpacas) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 21:34:00 +0000

Here's hoping everyone has had an enjoyable festive period. Once we were left 'empty-nesters' again after Christmas, we gave the periodical Vitamin ADE injections, and then yesterday, we walked our four halter-trained alpacas, two at a time, a quarter of a mile through the village to a lush orchard for new grazing. Camelot has stayed behind for halter training, with his mum and Moira, which began today.

lush new grazing

Further to previous blog - Barbara, you may be delighted to hear that Santa brought me a string of solar-powered l.e.d's, which I've strung through the shelter - post-Christmas it's like a fairy grotto/hippy den!

Moira enhanced her thin coat, with an idea from the Worzel Gummidge collection.

The previous blog also referred to the newly-launched Appleknit web-site - but what I hadn't realised, as it was 'top-secret', was that the 'incompleteness' wasn't due to tardiness by the web-developer (son), but because our three 'children' had all played a part in secretly creating a short video introduction for the Homepage and Youtube, which was only uploaded on Christmas Day as a pressie for Mrs. Smallholder - Kerry filmed the action sequences and photographed the still shots, Phil' edited the whole, and Ross made it 'web-suitable', each using their particular professional skills. So please have a look, and if you 'share' it on Facebook to spread the word, it would be appreciated greatly! www.appleknit.co.uk

spoiled for choice.

Talking of Facebook, I have to confess to be dragged screaming and kicking into joining today - I had been registered eighteen months ago, but buried my head in the sand and refused to activate it, and this evening was coerced in a weak moment - due to my wanting to fully support Appleknit, naturally - after all I am a shareholder. Now it seems, every Tom, Dick and Harry wants to be my friend! If you are Tom, Dick or Harry, well sorry, I only have room for one of each, and I'll be holding interviews/auditions for those places in due course...

Meanwhile, it's fun looking forward to the show schedule, conferences, training days, birthing 'schedule', new grass, longer days, and I'm updating up the administration while I've a bit of holiday left. Best wishes for a happy, healthy, safe, satisfying and prosperous year.

Greetings all!

noreply@blogger.com (Apple Vale Alpacas) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 23:56:00 +0000

Not a bauble in the barn, nor paper-chain on a 'paca, but all is prepared for Christmas at Apple Vale HQ.
The herd aren't perfectly coifferred for a photograph, but we are all suffering from rain and mud at the moment, and at least they are getting out for exercise, 'sun'light and air. Camelot is performing like all cria do at this stage, and being the mobile hay-rick - he's sitting back left next to mum, Minnie. Pelachuta (fawn) and Moira(black), as elders watch the open entrance on the right, while Bramley, Ambrosia and Autumn Gold fill the space in the middle - a fairly regular arrangement of herd hierarchy.
Weekends have been spent slithering around in the mud, spreading gravel around the over-trodden areas around gate and shelter, and eeking out the thinning grass, by allowing them into the tiny orchard and keeping them off the alotment with some chestnut pale fence. We've been offerred a temporary paddock in the village needing some grazing, so we'll be taking a few of them up there soon. Due to the construction of the workshop and studio, we kept the trailer in the field just a bit too long, and won't get it out without borrowing a tractor and creating a lot of mess, so it will have to wait for the ground to firm up - we'll lead the halter-trained girls through the village to the new paddock.

Joys' website offering spinning and felting workshops has been launched and can be found at www.appleknit.co.uk - spread the word.

So here's wishing all readers best wishes for Christmas, and thanks for joining in with your comments, quips, advice, and encouragement.

In a spin.

noreply@blogger.com (Apple Vale Alpacas) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 20:56:00 +0000

No doubt about this being a tasty bit of grass!

On tuesday, I attended a Defra-funded 'Camelids and TB bio-security' workshop, with three speakers, who specialise in different aspects of the subject - it's vital to take note of the available knowledge and advice on a subject such as this, in order to minimise the risks to ones herd. It took place at a farm just past 'the middle of no-where', almost at 'the back of beyond'.

Camelot

With the increasing herd comes the increasing poo hoovering, and that means the original manure heap fills quite quickly, so I built another today, located at the top of the veg patch so that it's easier for emptying the hoover. Talking of the 'poover', I know there are many people who are interested in how I'm getting on with it (no, really!), and it certainly has its quirks, can sometimes be cantankerous, and I'm sure deserves a blog dedicated to it one rainy weekend when there's nothing else to write about - "like now", I hear you say. I'll spare you that for now.

Mrs. Smallholder has been working on her web-site with her designer, and is spinning like mad to meet the demand for her products - more news on that soon.

Slap and tickle!

noreply@blogger.com (Apple Vale Alpacas) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 20:39:00 +0000

There I was, poovering away in the warm sun, in a tee shirt, when a Red Admiral fluttered around and settled on my head- I wondered if Wimbledon had begun, but then, hang on, IT'S NOVEMBER!

Minnie in the crush, after her pedicure.

Minnies mite-affected legs have been getting some Udder Salve 'slapped' on this week - while she is concentrating on her feed bucket in the morning, I have crept around with a handful of goo and rubbed it up her legs.

"I'm next!" - "no, it's my turn!"

Her toe-nails needed trimming and she's never enjoyed having her legs touched, so today we made a crush out of hurdles, gave her some Hazel leaves and Alfalfa for distraction, and I clipped them on the ground - it worked a treat.

Moira - enjoying her new-found treat.

Moira has always been timid and never eaten from the hand, but yesterday, I wanted to give Minnie extra feed in the afternoon as she is nursing and pregnant, so I took just two buckets of feed, which Minnie guarded well, and I distracted the others with carrot strips, and Moira joined in, and I repeated the exercise today.

Camelot - learning a new taste.

And the tickle? - for lunch we had 'Tickler' cheese - sorry to disapppoint!

Fibre studio opens.

noreply@blogger.com (Apple Vale Alpacas) — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 21:36:00 +0000

Bubbly flowed, scones were scoffed, and sandwiches were swallowed, as we held an open afternoon

to mark the completion of our Studio & Workshop. On wednesday the vinyl floor was laid, and late on thursday afternoon the mains electric was connected - we had started imagining a candle-lit opening if there had been any major power interruption to delay the connection, but there was no hiccup.
Mrs. Smallholder, two of her sisters (Hilda the Chief knitter, and Gaye) and our daughter (Kerry) worked tirelessly to make all of the sandwiches, scones and other nibbles, serving drinks and selling products, and demonstrating spinning and weaving, while I was in charge of livestock...

We were supported by good friends from the village, and the alpaca world, with some travelling from as far away as Ilfracombe in North Devon and Salisbury in Wiltshire, which was greatly appreciated.

My one reservation about events like this, is not being able to spend proper time in conversation with people without having to break off to welcome new arrivals or wish farewell to departees, and worrying that someone has decided to leave after hanging around too long for a chat. The weather was warm and sunny after heavy showers, so although the ground was soggy, it was a perfect day for November, and the numbers of feet didn't destroy the garden or paddock. I've not posted any photographs with people here, as they filled the room, and it's just the backs of heads, so you'll have to trust me - or maybe some will crop up on other blogs in due course.

I had lured the herd onto the lawn for un-grazed grass and the Eucalyptus tree to browse over, so that they were close for visitors to view - I picked some Hazel stems and wedged them in the hurdles, as they love the leaves, and soon the leaves will have turned and fallen in any case.

Today, as I had noticed Minnies rear legs showing signs of rawness due to mite itching, I gave a topical treatment of Eprinex in pig-oil courtesy of a plant sprayer. I then spread two barrow-loads of sand and small rubble in the paddock to firm-up the deteriorating gateways.

So it's great to finish six months of building, and start a new phase of fibre processing, product development and craft training, and hopefully we'll make progress on pasture and livestock development.

ScannedADE

noreply@blogger.com (Apple Vale Alpacas) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 22:10:00 +0000

Our three pregnant girls all scanned positive on friday - we were sure about Autumn Gold in any case, as she has become a lot more 'feisty' since mating. Camelot had his ear-tag and microchip fitted.

Workshop side - flooring and more tables awaited.

Today we gave ADE injections to each, and a few toe-nails were clipped. Bramley has a bit of a crusty skin on her legs so had a 'shampoo' and 'oil' treatment, made all the more difficult as she chose to kush throughout - she is as good as gold, but it was hard work rolling her around,and lifting her to open her legs up to get into the joints.

Clothes are models own...

Otherwise, it's been all-go in the Workshop & Studio - both the external doors had two coats of stain this weekend, thanks to mild and mainly dry weather, though I rigged up some protective polythene so we could leave the doors open and keep the slight drizzle off.

Studio side - each side has a mezzanine store - in this picture, supported by the roof truss in the background.

No time for alpaca pictures this weekend, so here are some sneak previews of the studio looking a little bare.

Hoovering acorns.

noreply@blogger.com (Apple Vale Alpacas) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 19:49:00 +0000

Heads down for afternoon tea - no time for posing for cameras.

I put a lot of effort into the title of my blogs, trying to make them true to the content, witty and worthy of a quality newspaper or magazine (no, really, I do!). You may be thinking, 'ooh is that the title of the latest novel by Diana Gabaldon, or the title of the latest hit 'chic flic', or perhaps the title of the latest album by Mumford and Sons'? but no, I literally decided to hoover the acorns from under our Oak tree, as we will eventually allow the girls some grazing on the lawn. Now, the 'poover was quite happy to suck the individual acorns up, but eventually would have too many in its 'trunk' to swallow, and I would have to deftly lift the trunk above my head to aid digestion into the storage tank - if I did too quickly, I had a shower of acorns flung into the air!

The impending heavy rain brought by (unusually) south-easterly winds concentrated the efforts this weekend: yesterday I put up the guttering and down-pipe on the hay shed, and today I put the primer coat on the Studio and Workshop doors as they will get a direct hit from the rain - checking the weather forecast tonight it seems we may not get much rain tomorrow, as it is forecast mainly for Devon and Cornwall - this week should see the 'completion' of the Studio and workshop, with final fitting from electrician, plumber and carpenters. Mrs. Smallholder completed the emulsion today, so it is all looking wholesome. She's also been carding, spinning and plying, to build up stocks for our opening and Christmas.

Poovering the lower latrine had been difficult yesterday due to the length of the grass (like combing Play-Doh through a toddlers hair!), so this afternoon, I mowed it twice.

Camelot is showing interest in feed supplement now - the girls all get a bucket each, and this week he has been cleaning up their buckets when they have finished. It's comical how despite having a bucket each, the girls have to bother each other so it ends up like musical chairs but with buckets, even though there are enough for one each!

Buff and sweep.

noreply@blogger.com (Apple Vale Alpacas) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 20:59:00 +0000

Mrs. Smallholder asked me to feel her biceps tonight - after emulsioning the ceilings and walls in the studio/workshop for two weeks, this weekend she's been rubbing wax into the exposed roof trusses, supporting posts, beams, and braces, and then buffing them - and it is all looking great - (and yes she does have some definition in the biceps). Meanwhile I've shifted even more rubble arising from the path and flight of steps that have been laid, and swept tons (alright, half a bag but it was a large area) of sand, dust and grit off the drive, patio and paths. Now that the building work is just about complete and tidy, the leaves are starting to replace the dust! hey ho.

"Bramley, what do you think this is?"

I've also laid slabs between the 'non-grazeable dry matter storage facility' (hay shed), and the 'livestock extreme weather defence shield' (open shelter).

"I've looked on 'PacaPedia', and I think it's an elephant"

Since buying the 'poover' in the spring, I'm occasionally asked how I'm getting on with it, and I mutter, 'yeah, fine' - not very helpful. When the herd was three in number, hand-collecting was easy, as it grew to five, it was manageable, then once the five were all adults, plus a sixth, it was time for an alternative, or quit the day-job and become a full-time pooper-scooper. So I bought the 'poover'. It's been very reliable - I've learnt not to walk too fast with it, or it (literally) throws a wobbler - our field is one side of a hill, so it makes sense to start at the top, and work down so I'm not pulling the increasing weight up hill - it's very obedient and follows me down the hill, without asking, if there's a south-westerly blowing - when the field is dry, the 'beans' make a satisfying rattle as they scuttle up the hose
- occasionally, a dumpling will resist and keep dropping out of the tube, and then I have to wave it in the air, and ask gravity to help - emptying the bin requires a knack (doesn't everything in life), as the machine will fall forwards unless you have something to lean it against - and if the bin is full it's difficult to lift and empy into a four-sided manure heap, so it's best to try not to be too optimistic - we have around 14 hens, but Mary, the light coloured, is always there in a flash, up onto the heap to start raking over the new manure, like the men at the re-cycling centre!

All the herd were given Lambivac injections yesterday, which went smoothly. The most notable aspect was Autumn Golds reaction - she has been the most amiable of the herd until Bramley came along, but clearly some pregnancy hormones have kicked-in, as she was very reluctant to be held, and spat at us for the first time ever.

"Show me emulsion, tra, la--la, la-la..."

noreply@blogger.com (Apple Vale Alpacas) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 21:02:00 +0000

Camelot enjoying a weed.

We've had a weekend of concerted effort decorating the studio and workshop, though Mrs. S has spent most of the week up ladders and towers with roller and brush - here is a view out of one of the rooflights:

Bramley had some rawness between her front toes a couple of weeks ago -I gave a shampoo with Seleen, followed by a locally sprayed solution of Eprinex in pigoil - I've been monitoring visually daily, but a hands-on check today showed it has cleared-up - she is the friendliest alpaca, but when giving treatment she will kush, which makes foot and leg treatment awkward - of course we partially rolled and lifted her, but does anyone have any tips for preventing them from kushing in such circumstances?

Fibre workshop progress.

noreply@blogger.com (Apple Vale Alpacas) — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 20:52:00 +0000

Camelot in the evening sun.

Progress on the studio and workshop has picked up in the last fortnight - the external cladding is complete, inside is fully plastered, floors down, skirtings and architraves on, and Mrs. Smallholder has sprung into action with the paintbrush and roller.

The fibre workshop & studio.

On friday, the two carpenters working here this week asked if they could meet the alpacas before they left - now these guys come with fully-tattooed arms, and work the tough life of a building site, so I hadn't expected to find there was a 'soft centre'. So on saturday afternoon, when they had finished at 4 o'clock, having expected to finish at 1, we asked them if they wanted to see them - "cor yeah", they said, so off we marched, a few nibbles andd some tasty leaves in hand. With the full attention of the herd, one of them said, "I've waited all week for this - I told my girlfriend I was working at a zoo, I must get a picture" - they each had pictures taken, asked lots of questions, and were so besotted, that despite their late working, they were in no rush to leave.

Another large skip full of waste was collected on friday, and this weekend I've spent much of the time bagging-up more off-cuts, sweeping dust, picking up screw and nails, stacking firewood, and sorting anything that can be collected by the re-cycling truck - it's surprising how many cans of energy drinks have fuelled the building effort!

Our fibre workshop and studio, cottage in the background.

P is for 'paca - or not.

noreply@blogger.com (Apple Vale Alpacas) — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 19:36:00 +0000

Who can resist a rainbow?

No specific alpaca news this week, but I've transferred the hay from the shelter into the shed - the hens have followed suit and begun laying in the bales - Pixie, our Shi-Tzu finds them, and then runs around the garden, her mouth filled to stretching, with an egg in it! I need to fix doors next, to try and keep them all out, and transfer Ting Ting our rat catcher.

We've been to Manchester for our son Phil's birthday - he had a fancy dress theme of the letter 'P' - a great idea as the options are limitless - Mrs. Smallholder and I went as 'Party Poppers' - you can use your imagination as I don't 'do' Facebook, though Mrs. Smallholder does - there was a Pharoh, Primark, Policeman, Puzzle, Peacock, Pilot, Punks, Pop Princess (Kylie) and Poker Face (Lady Gaga). it was great fun, and I was able to 'dad dance' all night!

'nuff of that - the Studio is progressing well, I'm holding off photo's now until it's presentably finished - the external cladding is going on, and inside is being plastered.

Off to Plymouth for younger sons graduation on wednesday.

Ta daa!!

noreply@blogger.com (Apple Vale Alpacas) — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 20:35:00 +0000

hay shed - garden entrance

With a small fanfare (to be honest, it was just a bit of blood, sweat and tears), yesterday I cut through the fence, and so linked the hay shed with the alpaca shelter and paddock, and in the next few days can transfer the hay, making the shelter available to the alpacas for the harsher weather. The roof was completed last weekend, and I've just got a few odds and ends to finish, including making provision for our barn cat who we'll try and transfer over from her luxury accommodation in the summer house. The roof tiling wasn't entirely without hitch, as I collected another 60 second-hand roof tiles from the reclamation yard on thursday, only to find they were half an inch smaller tha the first lot, and had to take them back on monday but fortunately found suitable replacements, as I'd already fixed the battens and laid the first 88 - it was a long weekend with humble pie being eaten and severe bruising from kicking myself for not checking - more haste, less speed!

hay shed - paddock entrance

I attended the 2-day Camelidynamics course with eleven other breeders, which was presented by the excellent Julie Taylor--Browne, and hosted by Classical Mile end Alpacas. Julie is a brilliant tutor in all respects, we had plenty of live models to practice on, and Rachels now-legendary catering was excellent, as usual.

Camelot, with Bramley beyond

On tuesday the South-West Alpaca Group held a social outing which did not involve showing alpacas or their fleeces - a chance to rub shoulders with other breeders without the usual time pressures of shows. We had a trip around Devonia Sheepskins at Buckfastleigh in Devon, followed by a pub lunch, and trip around Buckfast Abbey. While some people may find the thought difficult, there will inevitably be casualties on the farm, and it is clearly one way of extending the economic (or sentimental) value of an animal. They already have experience of tanning alpaca pelts.

This photograph was not taken with the CountryFile calender in mind...it's been a busy day.

Today I made another trip out with the trailer and two girls for a spit-off for Autumn Gold which proved to be successful, so now that's three pregnant - now I can moth-ball the trailer for a while and concentrate on some training, Camelidynamic-style.